Easy tarp and dry load

ABSTRACT

A retractable tarpaulin that can cover the cargo of a trailer ( 20 ), either partially or entirely. This system comprises a pair of posts ( 30 ) that slide in notches ( 24 ) at the periphery of a trailer bed ( 22 ), at the desired position according to the size of the cargo to cover. The width is also adjustable and includes an overhang ( 88 ) of up to 12″ on either side. The length may be reduced or extended at both front end and aft end if needed. The height of the posts can be adjusted to adapt to the cargo. A series of top cables ( 54 ) support the top tarpaulin ( 57 ) and a drum arrangement ( 55 ) stretches the cables to provide tightness to support the top tarpaulin when in use. As the top tarp is retracted a number of rings ( 86 ) attached to the tarp are successively engaged in a small vertical tube ( 53 ) and each section of the top tarp is sequentially piled into a small storage housing ( 52 ). The side tarp ( 75 ) is folded like a curtain into a horizontal support ( 83 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates the field of retractable and adjustabletarpaulins, particularly those that cover the bedplate of a trailer.

[0003] 2. Description Of The Prior Art

[0004] Certain patents particularly drew our attention:

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,377, Denyer, Nov. 25^(th), 1997, the boxcannot be lowered and the tarpaulin covers only the top part of theload.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,953, Shaer, Jun. 11^(th), 1996, is atarpaulin installed on arches, which slide along two rails. It cannot beadjusted for different heights.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,732, Schouten, Nov. 23^(rd), 1999, showsmeans of manoeuvring a tarpaulin but without varying the height or thelength to be covered. The system uses several gears. It is heavy tohandle and expensive to build.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,857, Killion, May 17^(th), 1977 shows aretractable tarpaulin. The frame of the box does not vary.

[0009] FR 64,559, Justinien, shows a permanent lattice, covered by atarpaulin, which can be unfolded from the front to the rear. Atarpaulin, also present on both sides, folds around a roller 23. Neitherthe height, nor the length can be adjusted.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is a general objective of the invention to provide a tarpaulinwhich can cover the cargo of trailers and is adaptable to variouslengths, widths and heights. This tarpaulin should cover various cargoseasily and securely. It should also be foldable into a small roll forstorage. Its simple structure and light weight is to make it possible tocover a cargo entirely or in part. A more particular objective is toprovide posts that are installed into notches in rails located at theperiphery of the flat bed of a trailer. These posts are to be moved inaccordance with the length of the cargo to cover. The length of theseposts is to be adjustable to adapt to the height of the cargo. The endposts are linked together by cables to create a net that will supportthe tarpaulin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present invention will be further understood from thefollowing description with reference to the drawings in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective of a trailer, with posts, without thetarpaulin.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective of a detail of FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 3 shows a detail of the system of FIG. 1.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective of a trailer, with the tarpaulin.

[0016]FIG. 5 shows a detail of the retraction of the tarpaulin of FIG.4.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a side view of a flat bed.

[0018]FIG. 7 is a side view of a double deck trailer.

[0019]FIG. 8 is a side view of a drop deck trailer.

[0020]FIG. 9 is a side view of a set of two trailers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawingswherein the same numbers identify the same characterizing elements.

[0022]FIG. 1 shows a bed 22 of a trailer 20 having a rail 23, at itssides. The rail 23 has notches 24, two feet apart from each other. Ateach end is a frame, front 28 and rear 26. Each frame comprises slidingposts 30, one on each side of the bed 22. The posts are made of tubesfitting in to one another. A series of small posts 31 are placed on bothsides of the bed 22, at regular intervals along the rail 23, for exampleeight (8) feet apart. The sliding posts 30 are made of three tubes,making it possible to adjust their height for the cargo to be covered:that is an upper section 32, a middle extensible section 33 - - - FIG.2—and a lower section 34. The rear frame 26 is similar to the frontframe 28. The posts of the rear are also in several sections. An angularsupport rod 42′ strengthens longitudinally and an extension 46 laterallyconnects a pair of upper cross bars 48′, fixed on two end posts of thefront. A transverse tube 50, supporting a number of barrels 51 joinstogether the lower sections 34 of the posts at the front. The barrels 51receive cables 54. There is a cogwheel 55, at the end of the transversetube 50, which reels in the cables until being locked in place by meansof a clapper 59. Curved rods 52, attached to the upper cross bar 48′ ofthe front post, are used to store the tarpaulin. There also is a seriesof small metallic tubes 53 attached to the upper cross bar 48. A seriesof cables 54 pass in these small tubes 53, the fore end thereof towardsthe barrels 51 and the aft end thereof being directed towards the postsat the rear. These cables are spaced approximately one (1) foot apartand then are gathered by a rake 56, at the rear end. These cables willsupport top tarpaulin 57 - - - FIG. 4.

[0023]FIG. 2 shows the three sections of the post 30. The height of apost is adjusted with a series of holes 36 and pins 38 locking togetherthe sections 32, 33, 34 of the post. An extrusion 35 forms a flattenedpart to ease insertion of the post 34 into the notches 24. The supportrod 42 solidifies every post and also allows moving the verticalstructures towards the interior or the ends of the bed 22. An elbow 43joins the upper section 32 to link it with the upper cross bar 48. Theupper section 32 is covered with an outer flange 44. The sections aretubular and slip one over the other using slides 60. The middle section33 comprises a pedestal 62, which has a lower groove 64. This groove 64slides into a track 66 of the lower section 34. The interior of thelower section 34 is a square 68 which can be, for example, of 75 mm by75 mm in a typical trailer. The pedestal 62 forms a male square 70 ofsides slightly smaller than those of the female square 68. The pedestal62 has a long side 72 long enough to cover a good part of the length ofthe middle section 34. A length of 600 mm is usually sufficient. Theupper section 33 has a hollow protrusion 74 whose outer square 76 issmall enough to slide in the inner square 78 of the bottom of the uppersection 32. The square 78 receives the top of the elbow 80, which slidesinto it. A top groove 82 has dimensions coinciding with those of thelower groove 64, which also slides along the track 66 of the slide 60 sothat the upper section is completely hidden in the lower section if onewants to have a height of minimal load, that is approximately of 1500mm. The outer flange 44 is attached, welded or screwed on the top groove82. It collects the tarpaulin and is used as envelope. The outer flange44 is on a rear sliding post 30. The part of the outer flange 44 that isattached faces the outside of the trailer and the unattached part facesthe rear or the front of the trailer, thereby forming a corner. Thelower section uses a lower mantel 84 that is integrated with the supportrod 42.

[0024]FIG. 3 illustrates two upper sections 32, 32′ of two posts, a rearone and a front one. A curved rod 52 supports a folded top tarpaulin 57.A small tube 53 is fixed to the top elbow 43 by means of a retention peg92 welded to the top elbow 43 at its bottom. A cable 54 passes throughthe small tube 53. The small tube 53 is maintained a certain distanceapart from the top of the elbow 43 and along the vertical part thereof.This is to leave a gap 81 that is large enough to permit rings 86 toslide around the small tube while carrying the tarpaulin. Each cable 54is tightened horizontally to support the top tarpaulin 57 by means ofthe rings 86. The cables 54 are attached to a rake 56 that locks itselfagainst the upper-cross bar 48. The rod end 85 of the curved rod 52holds an elastic band 87 that is placed by operators onto an outsidehook 89 mounted on the tarpaulin and guided to stretch the tarpaulin.The hook 89 is connected across from a ring 86 to provide rigidity.

[0025]FIG. 4 shows the trailer with a top tarpaulin 57 unfolded at thefront. The tarpaulin is made of three parts, that is two side tarpaulins75 and one top tarpaulin 57. The tarpaulin comprises eyelets 63 locatedon the side. There can be one row of eyelets 63 at about one foot fromthe end, thus allowing increasing the width of a load. A string passesthrough a series of eyelets. Buttons 69 are present on the outer flange44. Snap hooks 67 are enclosed around the buttons 69 and receive astring 65. The string 65 is located at the front of the trailer to keepits tarpaulin under tension. If one pulls the string 65 downwards, thetension of the tarpaulin will be increased and thus its waterproofnessimproves. The lower part 71 of the tarpaulin 57 may be increased inlength if needed to cover the load. An inner fold 73 enhances thewaterproofness. Other buttons 69′ are on the outer flange 44 and on thelower mantel 84 to stretch the side tarpaulins 75. The side tarpaulinscomprise a number of sleeves 77 encasing the cable 79. These sleeves aredisposed about one foot apart. To better the tension, the cables areattached to the snap hooks 67. The cables 54 support the top tarpaulin57. The top tarpaulin, when unfolded, covers the higher part of the sidetarpaulins 75. The rake 56 is used to draw the tarpaulin towards therear of the bed, until it is tightened longitudinally and attached tothe rear frame 26. An extension bar 88 is provided to permit increasingthe useful width by up to one foot on either side of the trailer. Eachpost 30 is then positioned over and into the end of the extension bar.

[0026]FIG. 5 shows an enlarged end view of a side tarpaulin 75, ready tobe folded. A horizontal support 83 allows the rings 86 which support thetarpaulin to be received along the horizontal support and be crowdedalong that support while carrying the tarp: as a result the tarp isbeing folded at the front end because the rings 86 act as curtain ringsalong the horizontal support 83. One support end 90 of the support mustbe held against the cross bar 48 to retain the tarpaulin while it isfolding completely. The support end 90 may be welded to the cross bar48.

[0027]FIG. 6 shows a trailer equipped with small posts 31 mounted innotches 24 of a flat bed trailer 21 and supporting a series of cables 79attached to a mobile front frame 28 and to a mobile rear frame 26. Atthe front is a curved rod 52, which serves as housing for storage of thetarpaulin.

[0028]FIG. 7 shows the application of FIG. 6 but on a different type oftrailer, namely a double drop 97, wherein small posts are extended posts37 to account for a lower centre section 93. The bottom of the tarpaulinmust be adjusted accordingly.

[0029]FIG. 8 shows an application on a single drop deck 98. The frontframe 28 is less extended than the rear frame 26.

[0030]FIG. 9 shows a double trailer 99, which comprises two smalltrailers 25, coupled by a coupling 91, one behind the other. Each unitis equipped with its own tarpaulin handling equipment; each tarpaulinwhen not in use is reeled in its storage area. The top tarpaulin 57 isreeled around its curved rod 52.

[0031] Other embodiments

[0032] The posts 30 may be of U-shaped section with an indentationfacing the outer side of the bed. The U-shaped section would alsocomprise inner grooves to hold the outer flange 44. The lower section ofa front post comprises a catch for a cogwheel, making it possible toreel in the cable. A lever activates the cogwheel. A clapper, screwed onthe post, locks the return of the teeth. The cable that comes out of thecogwheel, moves along the indentation of the front post and passes by asmall tube to the upper section of the post.

[0033] Additional sections may be added to place post 30 beyond thelimits of it the bed, either lengthwise or widthwise.

[0034] It is clearly understood that the mode of realization of thisinvention which was described above, in reference to the annexeddrawings, was given as an indication and is by no means restrictive, andfurther modifications and adaptations can be achieved without the objectdeviating from the scope this invention.

[0035] Other embodiments are possible and limited only by the scope ofthe appended claims:

[0036] Parts

[0037]20 trailer

[0038]21 bed trailer

[0039]22 bed

[0040]23 rail

[0041]24 notches

[0042]25 small trailer

[0043]26 rear frame

[0044]28 front frame

[0045]30 sliding post

[0046]31 small post

[0047]32 upper section

[0048]33 centre section

[0049]34 lower section

[0050]35 extrusion

[0051]36 hole

[0052]37 extended post

[0053]38 pins

[0054]42 support rod

[0055]43 top elbow

[0056]44 outer flange

[0057]46 extension

[0058]48 cross bar

[0059]50 transverse tube

[0060]51 barrel

[0061]52 curved rod

[0062]53 tube

[0063]54 top cable

[0064]55 cogwheel

[0065]56 rake

[0066]57 top tarpaulin

[0067]59 clapper

[0068]60 slide

[0069]62 pedestal

[0070]63 eyelet

[0071]64 lower groove

[0072]65 string

[0073]66 track

[0074]67 snap hook

[0075]68 female square

[0076]69 buttons

[0077]70 male square

[0078]71 lower part

[0079]72 long side

[0080]73 inner fold

[0081]74 protrusion

[0082]75 side tarpaulin

[0083]76 outer square

[0084]77 sleeve

[0085]78 inner square

[0086]79 side cable

[0087]81 gap

[0088]80 top of elbow

[0089]82 top groove

[0090]83 horizontal support

[0091]84 lower mantel

[0092]85 rod end

[0093]86 ring

[0094]87 elastic band

[0095]88 extension bar

[0096]89 hook

[0097]90 support end

[0098]91 coupling

[0099]92 retention peg

[0100]93 centre section

[0101]97 double drop

[0102]98 drop deck

[0103]99 double trailer

I claim:
 1. A tarpaulin supporting structure to cover a cargo of atrailer (20) comprising a bed (22) and rails (23) having notches (24)placed at the periphery of said bed (22), said structure comprising: twopairs of posts (30) comprising means to be mounted firmly andtemporarily along said rails (23) to provide a desired length ofcoverage; each of said posts being extensible in height and comprisingmeans for extension; means for connecting, at the ends, a pair of saidposts to form bridges laterally, thereby defining a rear frame (26) anda front frame (28); a number of longitudinally extending tarpaulinsupporting cables, means to mount said cables between said posts andmeans to tighten said cables to secure said tarpaulin, means forextending and retrieving said cables along with said tarpaulin and meansto store said tarp when not in use and to set said tarp in position overa load lengthwise, widthwise and heightwise, when used.
 2. The structureof claim 1 wherein said posts comprise a number of intermediary posts(31) installed in said notches (24) longitudinally and said means forextension comprise a lower section (34), a centre section (33) and anupper section (32), said lower section comprising means to firmly sit(35) in said notches and bracing means (42) to prevent longitudinalcollapse when a tarp is being loaded and tightened in place, said lowersection further comprising receiving means (68) to receive a pedestal(62) of superior posts and means to guide said pedestal in saidreceiving means, said centre section (33) comprising at a lower end saidpedestal over which sits a structural part, the section dimensionsthereof falling short of section dimensions of said pedestal therebypermitting the insertion of a tubular upper section (32) between saidstructural part and the projection limits of said pedestal, therebypermitting continuous contact between said three sections during riseand extension, while permitting complete hiding of said centre sectionand said upper section within the confines of said lower section whenminimum height is required.
 3. The structure of claim 2 wherein saidtarpaulin comprises a side tarpaulin (75) mounted on horizontal cables(79) and supported by a top horizontal support (83) by means of rings(86) to slide as far as a support end (90) for storage when not in use.4. The structure of claim 2 wherein said tarpaulin comprises a toptarpaulin (57) comprising sleeves for passing top cables (54), saidcables being attached to said rear frame and to said front frame, saidcables (54) comprising means to tighten and support said tarp betweensaid rear and front frames and to retract said top tarp to a storagelocation.
 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said front frame (28)comprises at the top a cross bar (48), with a number of small tubesadapted on the front face by means of a retention peg (92) located attheir bottom part, the others parts being maintained a certain distanceaway from said cross bar and said means to tighten comprise a barrel(51) placed at the bottom of said front frame (28) said barrel (51)tightening said cables (54) and said top tarpaulin (57) comprising rings(86) which engage said small tube in said gap (81) as far as theretention peg (92).
 6. The structure of claim 4 further comprising meansfor storing a top tarpaulin when not in use, comprising a number ofcurved rods (52) which receive part of said top tarpaulin (57)corresponding with said rings (86) stored in said small tubes (53). 7.The structure of claim 6 further comprising an elastic band (87) tomaintain tension of tarpaulin, said elastic band being applied againsthooks (89) mounted across said rings (86) to provide tension to retainsaid tarp within a storage housing.
 8. The structure of claim 2 whereinsaid lower section (34) is a female square (68) and comprises a track(66) to let pass a top groove (82) with an outer flange (44) in saidupper section (32), said centre section (33) possessing a lower groove(64) to guide said upper section (32) extending over said centre section(33) as far as a male square (70) to disappear when fully retracted.